Community Newsletter: February 22, 2024

February 22, 2024 edition of Councillor Alejandra Bravo's Community Newsletter

Neighbour --

Last week, the 2024 Budget was finalized at Toronto City Council. After years of neglecting needed investments to make our city work, the 2024 Budget tackles our fiscal crisis head-on and includes critical commitments to creating more affordable housing, improving TTC service, increasing community and youth programs, and fixing our aging roads, water systems, and city infrastructure. This budget puts our city back on a path towards financial sustainability, addressing the most urgent challenges residents are facing, and protecting important services we all rely on.

At the Budget Meeting, Council passed three motions which I introduced. The first provides increased by-law enforcement capacity to more quickly and effectively respond to dangerous dog attacks, noise complaints, and issuing business licensing. The need for timely and robust capacity to enforce by-laws is a recurring concern I hear from members of our community.

The second motion calls on the provincial and federal governments to increase funding and support for the child care sector, to help the expansion of non-profit and public child care centres, to protect EarlyON programs, and to move forward on school-based child care that local school boards have in the works.

I also moved a motion to look at new measures to support additional arts and culture spaces in our city, like art galleries and performance venues. Davenport is one of the pillars of arts and culture in our city—making and sustaining space for the arts is an important part of building a more liveable and vibrant city. I was also actively involved in efforts to keep arts and culture funding up to date.

During the budget meetings I hosted in November and January, in discussions with residents over the past few months, and in both Davenport and city-wide surveys, I consistently heard that people want to see more investments in many city services. There were many tough choices made by City staff, the Mayor, and City Council to ensure that we protected these services while getting us back on track fiscally.

City divisions found over $600 million in efficiencies as part of drafting this year’s budget, and all budget requests from divisions were carefully accounted for with respect for our City’s strained financial position. I also heard from people across our ward and our city that they would prefer our City’s limited resources be invested in services that keep people healthy and safe, prevent homelessness, and did not want to see additional funds added to policing.

With this in mind, I did not support a motion at Council to give the Toronto Police Service an additional $12.6 million increase, above the staff-recommended budget. I invite you to watch my remarks from last week’s meeting when this motion was being considered. As a voice for our community, I will continue to work for solutions that prevent violence in our city and are proven to increase community safety.

In the coming weeks, several local events are coming up which I invite you to attend:

On Sunday at 1pm, join me for a Season Send-Off Skate Party at Campbell Ave Park Rink
On February 28 at 7pm, join me and Toronto Public Library staff for a Community Meeting to hear updates on the renovation/relocation of Perth/Dupont Library
On March 2 at 12pm, join Toronto Fire Services, Toronto Community Housing and I for our Community Fire Safety Day at 61 Pelham Park Gardens

You can find other updates on city-wide news, local construction and more below.

Sincerely,

Alejandra Bravo
City Councillor • Ward 9 • Davenport
Chair, Economic & Community Development Committee

In this edition

Season Send-Off Skating Party at Campbell Ave Park Rink
Community Meeting: Perth Dupont Library Renovation/Relocation
Community Fire Safety Day at Pelham Park Gardens
Spring Recreation Program Registration Opens March 5 & 6
Circular Food Innovators Fund
Have Your Say: Quadricycles
Pay your property taxes on MyToronto Pay
Vacant Home Tax Declarations
Coldest Night of the Year at Oasis Dufferin
Little By Little Mural Project on West Toronto Railpath
Toronto Hydro Notice: Metrolinx Bridge Rehabilitation
Other updates

Season Send-Off Skating Party at Campbell Ave Park Rink

Community Meeting: Perth/Dupont Library Renovation/Relocation

Community Fire Safety Day at Pelham Park Gardens

Spring Recreation Program Registration Opens March 5 & 6

Spring is on the way! The City of Toronto opens registrations for spring recreation programs on March 5 (Etobicoke York and Toronto East York) and March 6 (North York and Scarborough). Programs start the week of March 30, 2024.

Improve your skills or learn something new with sports, fitness, arts, swimming and more. Residents of all ages and abilities are encouraged to participate in these active and educational programs. Find your fun on the City’s Spring Recreation Programs webpage.

Circular Food Innovators Fund for small businesses

The City of Toronto is accepting applications for its Circular Food Innovators Fund (CFIF). The fund is offering grants from $5,000 to a maximum of $35,000 for eligible small for-profit and not-for-profit food businesses in Toronto looking for support to help eliminate single-use and takeaway items.

Eligible businesses are encouraged to submit project plans for reuse systems that incorporate the use of reusable foodservice ware, such as reusable takeout containers and invest in systems that support their ongoing use. More information on the CFIF and eligibility criteria is available on the City’s Circular Food Innovators Fund webpage.

Have Your Say: Quadricycles

Since 2022, large quadricycles or ‘party bikes’ have been allowed limited use in Toronto under a pilot program. The City of Toronto is now seeking feedback on the use of these cycles in Toronto, to help inform recommendations to City Council for the continuation of the pilot.

An online survey is available until February 23 on the City’s Large Multi-Passenger Pedalled Vehicles Pilot webpage.

Pay your property taxes on MyToronto Pay

MyToronto Pay is an online platform that makes it easy for residents and businesses to pay and manage their Toronto property taxes, utility bills and parking violations in one secure location.

In addition to pre-authorized utility payments, you can now sign up for pre-authorized property tax payments and spread your payments over two, six or 11 instalments per year. More information is available on the City’s MyToronto Pay webpage.

Vacant Home Tax Declarations

All residential property owners in Toronto must submit a declaration of their property’s occupancy status every year – even if they reside there. Vacant Home Tax declarations for 2023 are due by February 29, 2024.

Property owners who would like help submitting their declaration of occupancy status can visit a drop-in session on select dates in February. All sessions take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. near the Inquiry & Payment counters at the following locations:

Toronto City Hall – February 28 & 29
Scarborough Civic Centre – February 28 & 29
Etobicoke Civic Centre – February 28 & 29
North York Civic Centre – February 28 & 29
York Civic Centre – February 26 & 27
East York Civic Centre – February 26 & 27

The deadline to declare occupancy status for the 2023 calendar year is February 29, 2024. More information is available on the City’s Vacant Home Tax webpage.